BLOEMFONTEIN STEAM

Bloemfontein was once the mecca of steam in South Africa with 4 lines radiating from this important city. Today two lines have steam, to Kimberley, and to Bethlehem. We will see some outstanding morning action at Kloofeind on the Kimberley line, with a stalled freight at dawn that required a pusher engine, plus several more trains after this spectacle. Then we visit the engine shed to see more 4-8-4's between assignments. In addition to this we get a rare look inside the Bloemfontein Rebuilding Shop, where many steam engines were undergoing rebuilding. We also chase the daily passenger train on the Bethlehem line for a few miles out of Bloemfontein. If all this were not enough we have included a lengthy cab ride in the second engine of a doubleheader on the Bethlehem line. This freight train is ridden from Fouriesburg to Bethlehem in engine 3405, but you see the engine ahead as well as interior shots of the 3405's cab. There is lots to enjoy in this video with informative narration and live audio from 1984.

DVD copyright 2009. 70 Minutes. $29.95